 Take one man caught in the web of his own frustration. Add a woman and the promise of escape. That's our story. Joey's girl taken from the files of John Steele adventurer. Hello friends. This is John Steele. We're back this week to bring you another story of adventure and living. Usually our stories are about friends of mine that I know real well. But this week's tale is about someone that I met quite by accident in one of those queer coincidences of life. I saw him for a brief instant and then he was gone. But I couldn't forget the expression on his face. So I went about finding him again. Believe me, it wasn't easy. Well, you just go ahead and tell it exactly as you told it to me, Joey. It's hard. It's real hard. You look back on something, try to figure out when it started and you can't. You can't even tell the day or the week what's more the hour or the minute. It's too mixed up. One day would just like the next to me anyway. So what's the difference? I'll tell you the whole story. Mike's bar was at the joint where we all hung out when we didn't have nothing better to do. I was there a lot. Spend all your life near a bridge and it does something to you. I've been waking up every morning, sometimes afternoons, looking out of the window at it, there it is, Manhattan Bridge. Looking big and rich and sticking its stinking feet down here where we ain't got enough room to turn around anyways. When you're a kid you go to school because your old man beats you if you don't. Sixth grade maybe seventh and then you hit the streets. From there you don't come home until you're tired or hungry. When you get tough and you learn how to carry yourself. When you're older you say, you know, what's that difference? You hang out in joints like Mike's. Hello Joey. Mike, how's the cuff? You're clean. Let me have a beer. Okay. Thanks. When did you get back? This morning. Seems like a long time. Years and years. Yeah. Flo's been asking for you. You can tell her that I did. Dirty squealing little bit. It was her or you? Yeah, I guess so. So who's around? You're your old mob. Be glad to see me back? Maybe. What do you mean maybe? Nothing. Okay, what's up? Nothing, I tell you Joey. What's up? Greek's kind of taken over while he was away. Just don't start nothing here Joey. You want to know something? Yeah. I don't care no more. That's what I said. What do you mean? I mean, I don't care no more. Yeah, but you're used to me. I know. Everyone's been saying wait till Joey gets back. Yeah. Sure. I don't get you. What's the difference? That's what I mean. What's the difference? Oh, yeah, I see what you mean. What's eating you, Joey? Nothing. Get something on your mind? No. You changed? Nothing. Hey, hello, Joey. Oh, hi, Benny. I've been waiting for you. Yeah. Sure. I knew you was getting out today. Don't give me that. I'm the level. How's the paper business? Okay. You want yours now? I ain't got the nickel kid. Oh, I'll trust you. Yeah. Give me the mirror. See, I ain't forgot. Yeah. Thanks, kid. Glad to see you, Joey. Nice kid. Little thief. So? Okay, okay. That joint looks the same. Hasn't changed much. Dirtier. What's the idea making a crack like? Shut up, Mike. Who's that? A doll. What? Over by the piano with Deacon. Oh, she's a new one around here. Nice. Name's Lillisa. Well, thought you was off, Dames. Dames like slow. They're all alike. See you later, Mike. I don't get you, Joey. You changed. Nice song. Shut up. Aren't you gonna finish the song for the lady? Pretty. Beat it. Today. Looks like I'm just in time. Meaning? Whatever you like it to. Okay, it means you're a clumsy jerk for horning in on a good song. Depends. On what? If you think a song's better than a man. Maybe I do tonight. Okay, baby. I'll see you around. No, wait. Yeah? Buy me a drink. I'm broke. Okay, okay. I'll buy you one. It's more like it. What's your name? Lily for the flower. Who are you? Joey, baby. For nothing. Just another dame. Maybe a little cleaner than the others and better dressed, but just like all the rest. Next day my head was busting from the lousy whiskey, so I beat it over to Tony's and killed the day shooting pool. No point in looking for work. I'm going no place and no hurry to get there. Funny other smell of her stayed in my nose. I thought maybe I was going soft or something, so I drank myself crazy for the next couple of days hanging out with the boys and just knocking around. It's just because I'd been away for a year, I could tell them myself, go away. All the time that crummy song was running around in my head and I could hear her laughing. I stayed away from Mike's because I knew she'd be there. She was that kind of dame always coming back for more. I learned about a week later I was out walking trying to keep cool. It was one of them hot sticky nights when you even your hands sweat. I was passing Mike's and the door was open. I could hear Deacon playing inside kind of slow and tired. I don't know why. I went in. A lot of joy. Mike? Right? Give me a beer. Right. Thanks. Where you been? Around. Why? Nothing. Why? Didn't see you for a couple of days. At all? What else? Sure. Sure. We thought maybe... Yeah? Nothing. Greek was in a couple of nights ago. Yeah? He knows you're back. He does, huh? Yeah. Says he's looking for you. So? Just don't start nothing. Can it? I told you about me. That Greek doesn't mean he... I worry too much, Mike. Yeah, but Greek stuff. So what? He might... What if he does? Huh? What's the difference? Who else been in? Nobody. Hmm. You're looking for somebody? No. No. I guess not. What's on your mind, Joey? Nothing. I thought... The blonde? What blonde? Lily. No. She hasn't been here since the night you came back. He hasn't, huh? No. That's funny. Used to be in here all the time. Yeah? I don't get it. No. I'm going to talk to Deacon. I don't get it. Women are funny animals. What do you say, Deacon? Didn't see you. I've been busy. Good way to be. Yes, sir. Good way to be. Yeah. Man can forget his troubles as long as he's busy. Yeah. I knew who a man was. Remember the blonde, Deacon? Remember the song you were playing? I mean, if you're ever in my house... Yeah, that's the one. Play it. Hello, Joey. Oh, baby. Been a long week, huh? Yeah. Long week. Didn't think you'd be here. I'm here. What now? I don't know. Gonna buy a lady a drink? Yeah, sure. Let's take her in a corner. You're broke? No. Working? Sir. Hocked my watch. Built it into a roll of Tonys. Oh. A couple of beers. A couple of beers, mate. A couple of beers. We shouldn't be here. But we are. Yeah. What you've been thinking for the past week? Nothing much. No. Gotta get working soon. Oh. That's about all. What have you been thinking? I've been... nothing. You said it was a tough week. Just make him talk. At all? Yeah. Two beers. Thanks, Mike. Bring the bell when you want me. Yeah. That go for you, too, baby? Cheat jerk. That's no way to waste beer, baby. I feel like throwing it out. Who are, baby? It's a hot night. I knew it was no good for each other. Who's good for anybody? I never should have come in here. Didn't ask you to. Okay, white guy. Hate screaming women. Get out of here, listen, cause I'm leaving so long, sir. Jerk is right, baby, for even thinking about you. Now, that was that. All alike. This is one day I'm going to forget. I looked for a job for the next couple of days, but all the old boys treated me like I was poison or something, so I gave it up. Friends. They come back from a year in stirring and everybody gives you the big freeze. Deacon was right. Man can forget his troubles as long as he's busy. I hung out at Tonys for a week, maybe, but all the time I was thinking about her and hearing that song. When I couldn't take it no more, I beat it over the mics, but she wasn't there. I went back for the next couple of nights, but she never showed, and then one night I was walking past her place and there was a light in the window, so I went in. Lily, open up. Come on, I know you're in there. Open up, baby. Come on, baby, I want to talk to you. Open the door, Lily. Leave me alone. I tried. Open the door. No. I want to talk to you. That's all. Get out of here. What's the matter, baby? I don't want to see you. You don't want to talk to you, and I'll beat it and leave me alone. I won't open it. I'll break it down. I'll open this door. Shut up. I'll break it to splitters. What do you want? Take the chain off. It stays. I said take the chain off. I said it stays. Look, I don't want to hurt you. Just talk to you. That's all. Go ahead. Talk. Not this way. Let me in, baby. Keep your hand out of the door. Come on. Let go of me. Take the chain off. You're hitting me. Get the chain. You're going to open up. Okay, okay. A little bit. You're cut. It's nothing. You're cut, Joey. I'm sorry. I said it was nothing. Wait a minute. I'll let you in. Get some water on. There. Put your arm under the fuss. That's just a scratch. Under the fuss. Okay, okay. Leave it there. I'll get something to wrap around. Women. What? Nothing. It's okay. You got a handkerchief? No. Hey, I washed it this morning. Ah, quit fussing. Dry it on the towel. Lily. Come on, dry it. Baby. Stop tossing. What do you mean? There's no good. Why not? I don't know. It's just then that gets along and then that don't. Yeah, come here. Get away from me. Don't get along, huh? Get me away. No good, huh? Get away. Use your head, Joey. I'm using it. Don't be a wise guy. Listen, baby. Joey's never been goofy before. I'm getting out of here. Where you going? I don't know. I got to think. Where you going? I don't know. You got a date. No. Yeah, I got a date. What do you mean you got a date? I mean, I'm getting out. No, you're not. You're Joey's girl. Not going any place. Joey, please. Say it. Please. Say it. Okay, okay. I'm Joey's girl. That's the way it was. Sometimes we was up and sometimes we was down. Sometimes we'd fight like cats and sometimes we didn't, but we always came back. I kept looking for work, but every place I went, I got the freeze. It didn't make sense. Guys have been up before. When they came out, they got a break. Nobody kicked them around the way I was getting it. Then one night, two and two made four. We'd been at Mike's. We were just leaving when we ran into Benny, the news boy, outside of the street. It's fine. Hi, Benny. Hey, Benny. I said hello. Joey, give me the brush. No, no, no, Joey. Oh, hello, Willie. What's the matter, Benny? Nothing, nothing's the matter. Okay, okay. Give me more paper. Sorry, no mirrors. What's it under your arm? What? Well, come on, give. Joey. Come on, no credit. Well, it ain't that. What's the matter, kid? Well, Joey, please. Do you like my dough no more? Cripties and the cheese. You know I'd sell you if I could, Joey. What do you mean if you could? Well, I mean... Out with it, kid. The Greek says I can't. Greek? He says he'll take my root away from me if I do. He does, huh? He understands, Joey. Sure, kid. Sure. I know, I know. You better beat it. Yeah. Here's the nickel anyway, kid. Oh, thanks, Joey. Thanks. So that's it. What you gonna do about it, Joe? Nothing. Nothing? You mean... That's what I said. Yeah, but... People just don't understand. What? I don't care no more. Kay, that's the way you want it. That is. You know what they'll say. I know. You don't care? What's the difference? Where are we going? I don't know. Let's go down by the river. Okay. It's hot. Yeah. Cool us off. Yeah. What you thinking about? Nothing. You want to talk? It's okay. You're awful quiet. I guess I was thinking. It's okay with me. I used to play on this street when I was a kid. Yeah? Wasn't so much traffic over here. What'd you play? I kicked a can, won a cap, and we could find a ball. I was gonna be a big ball player. What happened? Kid from the next block had run over one base, and the cops kicked us all off the streets after him. What do you want to be then? Cop? Why? So as I could kick kids off the street, I saw a cop get shot one day. I didn't want to be a cop no more. You ever want to be anything else? Yeah. What? Just to come down here by the river at night. Just watch. I know. I always wondered where they were going. Looks so clean. Yeah. So big. Wanted to be a sailor then. What happened? What happened? I used to think a lot when I was a kid. About what? Trying to figure it all out. Looking for answers. To think I'd get away from it someday. Yeah. I never did. No. What is it all about, are we? I don't know. Why have some people got it and we ain't? I don't know. It's ain't fair. We got to get our crack. Yeah. Everybody's all the time shoving. I know. I don't want to fight back no more. It's all right. I'm tired. It's all right. Even my head against a wall. Joey. No good. The whole setup stinks. What are you saying? The guy's got to move alone. Oh. And you're part of it, baby. What if I am? Go on back. Joey. Go on. Go on back and leave me alone. Joey. Don't look like that. Now get out. Get out. I stayed away from Mike's for two weeks after that. She'd blown her stack and walked out before her, but this time it was different. This time she did it the quiet way. I knew it was over. I heard about a couple of jobs over in the river. It sounded good when I went over there. They didn't want no ex-cons and that was that. I went over to Mike's one night a couple of weeks later, but it wasn't the same. That was nothing else to do, so I kept hanging around and hanging around. I don't know why. Hello, Joey. Mike. I'm broke. Oh. What about a beer? No, Joey. What do you mean no? I'm sorry. No credit? I trust you. Well? Here's 10, Joey. Pay me back when you can. Don't want no dough? Take it. I want a beer. You know how it is, Joey. Yeah. A wife and kid. Yeah, yeah. Can a guy do it? All I want is a lousy beer. I'll pay you for the glass. It's okay. So when did he move in here? This morning. He bought the joint. He left a message for you. Yeah. He said tell Joey if he sticks his face in here again, that's it. That's it. He meant it, Joey. Yes, he did. Now come on. Leave it. He'll be back soon. Okay. Oh, Deacon. I came over to say so long. I don't know. It might be a good idea. Yes, sir. Start off new with a new town. Yeah, maybe. Well, I knew a man once. She been in, Deacon. And I guess that's that. Everything happens for the best. Yeah. Play it. Joey, I... Play it. Okay, okay. Play it for the guy. I was going to say it was for you. Not for him. Yeah, sure. If you're... Let's sit in the corner. Okay. Didn't think I'd be seeing you. I guess it's that way with us. Yeah. I guess it is. Mike told me about the Greek. Did, huh? Better leave town for a while. Yeah. Or blow over. I guess so. Would you care? No. I'm coming with you. No, you're not. Why? It's no good. It's no good this way. No. Well, then... Quit shoving. What's the matter with you? I don't know. I don't know. What do you want? Will you leave me be? Why do you keep cornering me? It's only because I want to see you. Shoving, shoving. Everybody is shoving. Why are you gonna be a man? Shut up. Will you shut up? Lily. Why? I didn't mean to hit you. Honest, baby. Who do you think you're? I don't know what got in. Stop it now. Scratch your... Stop it. Stop it. That's better than a sit-down. Sure. What's the matter with me? I'll say you don't. I'm all mixed up. How do you want it on a plow? Now shut up. Gonna wait. Shut up, shut up. Look all my life I've been shoved around. What do you think it's been for me? I never got what I wanted never. Think I've had a picnic? But I always shoved back. I did the best I could. Now all of a sudden it doesn't make sense no more. I'm tired. I'm tired of beating my brains out. What brains? Where's it get you? What it's all about? Why don't they leave me alone? Listen, jerk. I'm gonna tell you this once and no more. Who do you think you are? You should have it easy. Nobody wants it easy. Just so as it makes some sense. Shoven, that's what it's all about. Somebody shoves you and you shove them back. And that's it. Only thing is it's nothing alone. Joey, Joey, will you get out of here? Yeah, sure. I'll get out. That's what makes it sense. Greek will be back soon. Okay, okay. I said I'd go. Then get over it, jerk. Because I'm leaving. I don't want you to make a mess of my joy. Shut up. Will you all? You shut up. And when you make up your mind, don't bother the call. Lily! Better get back to the bar. Now get out of here, Joey. I'm living in a coffin. Oh, okay. I'll let me be. But it's Lily. She's hit by a car. She hurt bad? I don't know. All right, all right, let me through. Let me through. Get out of the way, punk. Lily, baby. Baby. Joey. Yeah, baby. It's me. Now just take it easy. Everything's gonna be all right. Just take it easy. Uh-huh. Yeah, I know. Didn't seem... Yeah, yeah, yeah. Didn't seem... Shhh, baby, shhh. I was looking. I know, I know. Where's it hurt? Get a dock and get a cot. Somebody do something! Take it easy, baby. It's going to be okay. Come on, folks. Stand back. Stand back. Give them room. Come on. Get back. Hello, Mike. Close to you. Hey, Copper, look. Get a doc, will you? Larm's turned in. She's hurt. Be here in a few minutes. Yeah, baby. Lift my head with... Oh, here. Put my coat on you. Yeah. There. Yeah. Now, don't talk. Sound it off. It's okay, baby. What a jerk. Yeah, I know. It's okay. It's okay. I'm gonna get... I don't talk like that. Too late. Shut up, baby. Shut up. Look, all my life I've been waiting. Waiting for a dream. Too late. Just putting in time. You just shut up. Well, you shut up. I'm trying to tell you, Lily. Oh, I'm sorry, baby. I forgot. I always do it wrong. It's okay, Julie. You're it, Lily. You're it. What, Julie? You're the dream, baby. I've been... I love you. I love you. I love Joey. Yeah. Joey's girl. As soon as you're better, we're gonna take off. Get away from it all. Start all over. And then we'll... Let me see you, son. It's too late. Lily. Lily, did you hear what he said? Come on, son. Did you hear what he said? Well, tell him. Tell him an aid! Nothing you can do now. Unimprove, please. Come on. Hand back, folks. There, unimprove. Beat it. Somebody give you a hard time. Blow. He might. Come on. Buy me a beer. Okay. Why not? Let's go to Louis' cafe, huh? No. Okay. Where? Mike's. That dump. What's the difference? And you'll say you love... The title, Joey's Girl. A story of a man who learned the tragedy of indecision. And if you like Joey's story, why not come back next week, friends? I'll have a fellow who was held to the darkest jungles of Indochina by a strange and compelling bond. I like to call it obsession. So until next week, this is John Steele saying a life of adventure is yours for the asking, wherever you find it. Only don't look for it. It may find you. Well, goodbye and good hunting. Remember, next week Mutual presents Obsession, another story of suspense and action from the files of John Steele, adventurer. This is the Mutual Broadcasting System.